http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/90091.html
Ailene Voisin: Paging Artest to save the day
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PST Saturday, December 9, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
One month into the season, it would seem fair to say that the Kings are treading water, except their pace is more of a trudge than a tread.
They have large and small problems. They have offensive and defensive woes. They have chemistry issues. They have few low-post options, no shotblocker on the premises and no veteran scorer capable of consistently breaking down defenses.
But they still have Ron Artest.
But which Ron Artest?
The one who envisions himself as a spectacular scorer and primary offensive weapon but, in reality, often dominates the ball, hoists ill-advised shots and alienates his teammates? Or the one who is so gifted defensively, who resides with all-time greats Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and Michael Cooper, that he dictates the outcome of games by refusing to give an inch. Or a layup. Or a jump shot. Or anything else that matters.
That latter Ron Artest -- the one who stole into town midway into last season, then began stealing passes and swiping games -- is being summoned for another rescue mission.
The Kings need help. The Kings need him. They need him to stir things up again.
"We have to figure out something," obliged Artest, though self-censoring more than usual. "I can't force somebody to play better defense. There was a lot of miscommunication early in the year. I don't want to say with who. But I'll get it back."
Better hurry. This is a mid-pack team caught in the malaise of transition, with Geoff Petrie keeping one eye on a playoff berth and the other gazing further into the future, with visions of youth, quickness, size and length flickering across his internal screen. And never underestimate Petrie's sneaky-slick maneuverings in backroom trade talks; he might even be a little overdue.
Yet as the situation currently presents itself, for the Kings to harbor any realistic prospect of reaching the postseason before capitalizing on salary cap opportunities that will present themselves next offseason, Artest must re-emerge as the league's premier defender and recognize who he is. And who he isn't.
Offensively, he isn't Jordan, Bryant or LeBron James. He isn't Mike Bibby or Kevin Martin, the two Kings players featured in opposing coaches' defensive schemes.
Stop Bibby and stop Martin, it is scripted nightly in the other locker room, and you stop the Kings.
Of late, though, the Kings have been stopping themselves. And Artest, who loves to handle the ball on the perimeter, yet remains the club's most effective threat around the basket, is hardly the sole offender; people on crutches move faster than these guys.
Perhaps because of nagging injuries and ailments, Bibby refuses to push the pace or consistently attack the rim, and thereby create opportunities for himself and his teammates. (Terrific decision to eschew the timeout and drive for what should have been the winning layup or free throws against the Miami Heat.) The low post has become a black hole. Non-shooters are launching jump shots. The much-improved, though slumping Martin is getting too few field-goal attempts -- and too few passes in his sweet spots.
Additionally, there is very little body movement, even less enthusiasm for ball movement, and no semblance of the esprit de corps so evident during the Kings' late-season playoff push.
As for the frisky defenses that were on display during the opening weeks? Mostly gone. The Kings are losing those 94-foot sprints by a lap.
"Everybody on this team knows what their individual strength is," offered Corliss Williamson, always a voice of reason and insight. "If we have everybody playing to their abilities, we could be a good team. Our transition defense ... we have to get back, got to stop the ball, and our bigs have got to run back to the paint and clog it up, slow things down. Everyone has to take the challenge individually. Offensively, we've been playing selfish. We tend to go away from the team concept."
Yet many of the Kings' deficiencies -- and the injury bug has only exacerbated their troubles -- are minimized when Artest is on the ball. Literally on the ball. His hands are lightning-quick, as mind-numbing and debilitating as moonshine. His deflections, steals, rebounds, his powerful physical presence and especially his attitude, elevate the overall effort level and, in essence, keep the Kings in the game.
Does he remember last year? Does he understand his true value isn't in his words or his time of possession with the ball?
Yes. No. Maybe.
"I'm still waiting to see who the leader on this team is," Artest said. "If nobody wants to do it, I guess I'll have to go back to what I was doing last year. And that's OK. I'm more into wins than friendship. If you don't hustle, don't defend, you won't win. Coach (Eric Musselman) has got to make sure he's got the right guys out there, guys who want to play defense."
There it is. Artest talking defense.
It's a start.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@ sacbee.com.
Ailene Voisin: Paging Artest to save the day
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PST Saturday, December 9, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
One month into the season, it would seem fair to say that the Kings are treading water, except their pace is more of a trudge than a tread.
They have large and small problems. They have offensive and defensive woes. They have chemistry issues. They have few low-post options, no shotblocker on the premises and no veteran scorer capable of consistently breaking down defenses.
But they still have Ron Artest.
But which Ron Artest?
The one who envisions himself as a spectacular scorer and primary offensive weapon but, in reality, often dominates the ball, hoists ill-advised shots and alienates his teammates? Or the one who is so gifted defensively, who resides with all-time greats Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and Michael Cooper, that he dictates the outcome of games by refusing to give an inch. Or a layup. Or a jump shot. Or anything else that matters.
That latter Ron Artest -- the one who stole into town midway into last season, then began stealing passes and swiping games -- is being summoned for another rescue mission.
The Kings need help. The Kings need him. They need him to stir things up again.
"We have to figure out something," obliged Artest, though self-censoring more than usual. "I can't force somebody to play better defense. There was a lot of miscommunication early in the year. I don't want to say with who. But I'll get it back."
Better hurry. This is a mid-pack team caught in the malaise of transition, with Geoff Petrie keeping one eye on a playoff berth and the other gazing further into the future, with visions of youth, quickness, size and length flickering across his internal screen. And never underestimate Petrie's sneaky-slick maneuverings in backroom trade talks; he might even be a little overdue.
Yet as the situation currently presents itself, for the Kings to harbor any realistic prospect of reaching the postseason before capitalizing on salary cap opportunities that will present themselves next offseason, Artest must re-emerge as the league's premier defender and recognize who he is. And who he isn't.
Offensively, he isn't Jordan, Bryant or LeBron James. He isn't Mike Bibby or Kevin Martin, the two Kings players featured in opposing coaches' defensive schemes.
Stop Bibby and stop Martin, it is scripted nightly in the other locker room, and you stop the Kings.
Of late, though, the Kings have been stopping themselves. And Artest, who loves to handle the ball on the perimeter, yet remains the club's most effective threat around the basket, is hardly the sole offender; people on crutches move faster than these guys.
Perhaps because of nagging injuries and ailments, Bibby refuses to push the pace or consistently attack the rim, and thereby create opportunities for himself and his teammates. (Terrific decision to eschew the timeout and drive for what should have been the winning layup or free throws against the Miami Heat.) The low post has become a black hole. Non-shooters are launching jump shots. The much-improved, though slumping Martin is getting too few field-goal attempts -- and too few passes in his sweet spots.
Additionally, there is very little body movement, even less enthusiasm for ball movement, and no semblance of the esprit de corps so evident during the Kings' late-season playoff push.
As for the frisky defenses that were on display during the opening weeks? Mostly gone. The Kings are losing those 94-foot sprints by a lap.
"Everybody on this team knows what their individual strength is," offered Corliss Williamson, always a voice of reason and insight. "If we have everybody playing to their abilities, we could be a good team. Our transition defense ... we have to get back, got to stop the ball, and our bigs have got to run back to the paint and clog it up, slow things down. Everyone has to take the challenge individually. Offensively, we've been playing selfish. We tend to go away from the team concept."
Yet many of the Kings' deficiencies -- and the injury bug has only exacerbated their troubles -- are minimized when Artest is on the ball. Literally on the ball. His hands are lightning-quick, as mind-numbing and debilitating as moonshine. His deflections, steals, rebounds, his powerful physical presence and especially his attitude, elevate the overall effort level and, in essence, keep the Kings in the game.
Does he remember last year? Does he understand his true value isn't in his words or his time of possession with the ball?
Yes. No. Maybe.
"I'm still waiting to see who the leader on this team is," Artest said. "If nobody wants to do it, I guess I'll have to go back to what I was doing last year. And that's OK. I'm more into wins than friendship. If you don't hustle, don't defend, you won't win. Coach (Eric Musselman) has got to make sure he's got the right guys out there, guys who want to play defense."
There it is. Artest talking defense.
It's a start.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@ sacbee.com.
